AWOL soldier convicted in Orange County killing

Aug. 2, 2014 - 11:45AM
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SANTA ANA, CALIF. — An AWOL Army soldier has been convicted of killing a friend and wounding his own father and another man in an Orange County motel room.

City News Service says 23-year-old Steven LeClaire was found guilty Friday of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

He could face 90 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors say LeClaire went AWOL and was staying at his father's motel room in Cypress in 2011 when he began shooting. He fired 14 shots, killing 24-year-old Marques Murray and wounding Raymond Eligan and his father, Steven LeClaire, who was shot numerous times.

Authorities say LeClaire blamed his father for his own alcoholism and for getting his teenage sister drunk.